New Borehamwood rabbi Alex Chapper outlines plans for community

Rabbi Alex Chapper is Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue’s new senior rabbi, after members voted him to the top job at the country’s biggest shul.

Chapper and his wife Eva joined BES in 2017 and replace Rabbi Chaim Kanterovitz, who resigned suddenly and with immediate effect in November.

Chapper said he wanted BES to be “a truly seven-day-a-week community with a broad range of educational, social and cultural activities,” adding that every member should have “multiple access points to communal involvement”.

He said: “I’m passionate about innovation that inspires people to greater religious commitment and deeper knowledge, and have ambitious plans to develop our Interactive Torah offering, as well as niche programming tailored to different demographic groups. We will also be enhancing the religious provision for women.”